Techniques to use location information to reduce scanning in wireless networks

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a wireless client adapted to obtain its location information and based upon the location information, determine its network scanning requirements for a single wireless interface, or a plurality of wireless interfaces connecting to a plurality of networks.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a wireless client adapted to obtain its location information and based upon said location information, determine its network scanning requirements for a single wireless interface, or a plurality of wireless interfaces connecting to a plurality of networks.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein if said wireless client determines its location has not changed beyond a predetermined set of parameters applicable to each of the wireless interfaces, said wireless client reduces the periodicity with which it performs scanning, or completely avoids scanning within said network(s). 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said location information is determined by using a global positioning system (GPS), or a location update by any of the wireless interfaces. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said network(s) are selected from the group consisting of: a wireless local area network (WLAN), wireless metropolitan area network, wireless wide area network, wireless personal area network or wireless broadcast network. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless client is selected from the group consisting of: a notebook computer, ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs), mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs). 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein if said wireless client determines its location has changed beyond a predetermined set of parameters, said wireless client scans said wireless network(s) to map wireless applications within said wireless network(s). 
   
   
       7 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining the location information of a wireless client and based upon said location information, determining said wireless client's scanning requirements for a single wireless interface, or a plurality of wireless interfaces connecting to a plurality of networks.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising determining if said wireless client's location has changed beyond a predetermined set of parameters applicable to each of the wireless interfaces, and if not, reducing the periodicity with which said wireless client performs scanning, or completely avoiding scanning with said network(s). 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising determining said location information by using a global positioning system (GPS), or a location update by any of the wireless interfaces. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said network is selected from the group consisting of: a wireless local area network (WLAN), wireless metropolitan area network, wireless wide area network, wireless personal area network or wireless broadcast network. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising selecting said wireless client from the group consisting of: a notebook computer, ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs), mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs). 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising scanning by said wireless client of said wireless network if said wireless client determines its location has changed beyond a predetermined set of parameters to map wireless applications within said wireless network. 
   
   
       13 . A machine-accessible medium that provides instructions, which when accessed, cause a machine to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining the location information of a wireless client and based upon said location information, determining said wireless client's scanning requirements for a single wireless interface, or a plurality of wireless interfaces connecting to a plurality of networks.   
   
   
       14 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 13 , further comprising said instructions causing said machine to perform operations further comprising determining if said wireless client's location has changed beyond a predetermined set of parameters applicable to each of the wireless interfaces, and if not, reducing the periodicity with which said wireless client performs scanning, or completely avoiding scanning with said network(s). 
   
   
       15 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 14 , further comprising said instructions causing said machine to perform operations further comprising determining said location information by using a global positioning system (GPS), or a location update by any of the wireless interfaces. 
   
   
       16 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 13 , further comprising said instructions causing said machine to perform operations further comprising operating said wireless client in a network that is selected from the group consisting of: a wireless local area network (WLAN), wireless metropolitan area network, wireless wide area network, wireless personal area network or wireless broadcast network. 
   
   
       17 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 13 , wherein said medium resides on an wireless client that is selected from the group consisting of: a notebook computer, ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs), mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs). 
   
   
       18 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 16 , further comprising said instructions causing said machine to perform operations further comprising scanning by said wireless client of said wireless network if said wireless client determines its location has changed beyond a predetermined set of parameters to map wireless applications within said wireless network. 
   
   
       19 . A system, comprising:
 base stations providing access to one or more wireless access networks;   a wireless client in communication with said base stations in the wireless access networks, wherein said wireless client is adapted to obtain its location information and based upon said location information, determine its network scanning requirements for a single wireless interface, or a plurality of wireless interfaces connecting to a plurality of networks.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein if said wireless client determines its location has not changed beyond a predetermined set of parameters applicable to each of the wireless interfaces, said wireless client reduces the periodicity with which it performs scanning, or completely avoids scanning with said network(s). 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said location information is determined by using a global positioning system (GPS), or a location update by any of the wireless interfaces. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said wireless client is selected from the group consisting of: a notebook computer, ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs), mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs). 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein if said wireless client determines its location has changed beyond a predetermined set of parameters, said wireless client scans said wireless interfaces to map wireless applications within said wireless access networks.